Leading British Film Group in Beijing to Explore Closer Ties With China

Leading members of the British film industry have arrived in Beijing to explore opportunities for building creative and business links between the U.K. and China and take part in the Beijing International Film Festival.

Led by the BFI, a group of 12 British talent agents, producers, distributors, film sales companies, exhibitors and representatives from the BFI, the British Film Commission and BBC Worldwide began their visit with the GREAT Film Reception at Johnny Walker House Beijing.

Over the week, they will meet with their counterparts in the fast-growing Chinese business.

The visit comes after British Prime Minister David Cameron’s trade delegation to China, during which a landmark co-production treaty was agreed to and is now set to be signed and ratified.

“China is rapidly becoming one of our most important cultural, creative and economic partners and is a key territory in the BFI’s international strategy for U.K. film,” said Amanda Nevill, BFI CEO.

“Bringing this U.K. industry delegation to Beijing is one part of an extensive program of landmark events that we have set up to take place in China and the U.K. throughout 2014, which are collectively designed to create opportunities for collaboration between these two inspiring film cultures and dynamic industries,” she added.

The delegation was led by the BFI in partnership with the British Council, China Britain Business Council (CBBC), the British Embassy, the British Council and U.K. Trade and Investment (UKTI).

Among those taking part are agent Tor Belfrage from Julian Belfrage Associates, line producer Mairi Bett from Skyline Films, Clare Binns from distributor/exhibitor Picturehouse Entertainment, producer Pete Czernin from Blueprint Pictures and producer and distributor Will Clarke from Altitude Film Entertainment.

Producer Robin Gutch from Warp Films/Warp X, sales agent Mercy Liao from West End Films, Ken Marshall from Steelmill Pictures, development executive producer Dan MacRae from production, distribution and sales house StudioCanal and producer Rebecca O’Brien from Sixteen Films were also in the delegation.

Sales agent Charlotte Van Weede from eOne Films International, Teun Hilte from digital distributor Under the Milky Way, BFI international head Isabel Davis,British Film Commission senior production executive Samantha Perahia and Stephen McDonogh, who is responsible for securing production funding for BBC Worldwide productions, rounded out the delegation.